Drilling/cutting machine for making joints in wooden members

Abstract

A drilling/cutting machine for forming joints for accommodating metal protrusions of a metal plate connector. The machine can cut one or more joints simultaneously with a drilling/cutting bit that drills and simultaneously cuts smaller and larger width slots completing the joint.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drilling/cutting machine for making joints in wooden members for accepting metal protrusions of a metal plate connector used to join wooden members together, said machine comprising: a bed for holding the wooden member;   a drilling/cutting tool connected to said bed, said drilling/cutting tool having a drilling bit configured for boring a hole into a surface of the wooden member when said drilling/cutting tool is moved along a first axis towards said bed and configured for cutting at least one slot extending from the hole in the surface of the wooden member when said drilling/cutting tool is subsequently moved along another axis set substantially perpendicular relative to said first axis; and   a mechanism connected between said bed and said drilling/cutting tool, said mechanism configured for moving said drilling/cutting tool along said first axis towards and away from said bed, and configured for moving said drilling/cutting tool along said second axis along the surface of the wooden member.   
     
     
       2. A drilling/cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein said drilling bit, comprises: a shank;   a body connected to said shank, said shank having at least one primary groove extending along a longitudinal direction of said shank;   a body cutting blade positioned along said shank; and   an end cutting blade positioned at an end of said body, said end cutting blade having a greater diameter relative to said body cutting blade.   
     
     
       3. A drilling/cutting machine according to claim 1, including an adjustable clamping device for accommodating different width wooden members. 
     
     
       4. A drilling/cutting machine according to claim 1, including another drilling/cutting tool positioned adjacent to said drilling/cutting tool and aligned in a direction along the length of the wooden member. 
     
     
       5. A drill/cutting machine according to claim 4, wherein said drilling/cutting tools are set apart a predetermined distance equal to the spacing between protrusions on the metal plate connector. 
     
     
       6. A drill according to claim 2, wherein said body is provided with a pair of opposed primary grooves, and said body cutting blade is defined by trailing cutting edges of said primary grooves. 
     
     
       7. A drill according to claim 1, wherein said end cutting blade is defined by a pair of opposed cutting members. 
     
     
       8. A drill according to claim 6, wherein said opposed cutting members provide a continuous cutting edge. 
     
     
       9. A drill according to claim 8, wherein said continuous cutting edge is defined by a pair of straight opposed parallel cutting edges transitioning at a center of said continuous cutting edge. 
     
     
       10. A drill according to claim 6, wherein said end cutting blade is defined by a pair of opposed cutting members. 
     
     
       11. A drill according to claim 1, wherein said body is provided with a secondary groove for reducing friction during cutting. 
     
     
       12. A drill according to claim 10, wherein said secondary grooved is more shallow than said primary groove. 
     
     
       13. A drill according to claim 11, wherein said primary groove is defined by a pair of opposed grooves, and said secondary groove is defined by a pair of opposed grooves positioned in a trailing position, respectively, relative to said primary grooves. 
     
     
       14. A drill according to claim 1, wherein said end cutting blade is define by a side cutting edge for cutting transversely, and a bottom cutting edge for boring.